Please give a failed-baby wearer advice

[leigh09]

I have failed at wearing my first two children because it simply hurt my back too much! I am expecting baby #3 in October and would like to try again simply because I can see it making life easier chasing after my then 2 & 3 year olds while caring for baby.

I HATED the hotsling, absolutely hated it. I kept feeling like my children were not secure and going to fall out of it. I am looking for suggestions on something easy to figure out, secure for baby, and gentle on my back.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions

[amy9798]

I didn't like pouches much either!

I think a simple 2-shoulder carrier would be great for you- either a mei tai (Babyhawk, Freehand, and Kozy are all very popular) or a soft structured carrier (like Ergo or Beco) would be great for you. Mei tais have long straps that you tie and SSCs have shorter straps that you buckle.

Thebabywearer.com has lots of carrier reviews, info, forums, etc. and is a great resource for finding out more about what carrier would be right for you.

Good luck!

[ChetMC]

Discomfort seems to come down to improper fit and positioning more often then anything else. And honestly, hotslings can be very hard to size.

I think what helps the most is to have a really knowledgeable person who can work with you in person. A lot of people who sell carriers do formal baby wearing seminars and workshops, or they are good about working individually with moms, demonstrating how to use particular carriers and letting you try them on. Researching this stuff on your own can be very overwhelming, and trying to troubleshoot with nothing but a DVD is easier said than done.

A SSC like a Beco or an Ergo is nice in that the learning curve is not steep at all. I also find that I have the greatest mobility with our older kids when DS is on my back, which is super easy to do with the Beco, but something like a sling or a wrap would be my choice with a newborn... though again, finding an experienced babywearer to help you get started with a sling or a wrap would be a very helpful.

Sometimes the LLL has names of local moms who do babywearing support. There also used to be a website that had a list of moms who offered help to others.

[pixiepunk]

get a mei tai - i think Kozy is the most versatile, but Babyhawks are good with smaller babies too, and there are many others, Freehand, Sachi, lots of them. all are going to be leaps and bounds more comfortable on your back than a one-shouldered carrier, and are much better-suited IMO to newborn and small infant wearing than SSC's are.

[maymorales]

I always recommend people going to a local boutique where they carry popular brands like Beco, Ergo, Freehand, Babyhawk, Pikkolo, etc. Trying on different carriers will ensure you find the one that fits you best. I agree with pps that 2 shoulder carriers may be best for you.

[almadianna]

I would suggest going to a babywearing meeting and seeing if someone there can help you find something that works for you. where do you live? maybe I can help you find someone.

[MotherMoonPads]

If you can't get to a babywearing meeting or LLL meeting, and you're willing to try wrapping, I would go with a stretchy wrap (like a Moby) for the newborn age

[naturemama1]

I agree, seek out your neighborhood LLL and babywearing groups! Stretchy wraps and ring slings are both great for newborns, and sometimes just having someone show you how to wrap up a baby doll is all it takes to get the hang of it. If you can't find someone to give you a demonstration in person, I would recommend a Moby wrap and spending some time on youtube watching various newborn wrapping tutorials.

I think it's great that you're giving babywearing another go! Once everything clicks, there's really nothing like it.